Completed in 2015 at a cost of about $3.4 million, the courtyard was designed by PWL Partnership Landscape Architects Inc. in consultation with various SFU departments, and physics professor Howard Trottier. The observatory, courtyard and associated projects were funded by SFU and a $2.7-million gift from the Trottier Family Foundation.

The CSLA is the "voice of the profession in Canada," advocating for its members on issues such as urban design, urban renewal, sustainable development and cultural heritage.